Graduating during a recession I entered the construction industry, completed an apprenticeship, started and sold a business, taught and did trade certification work. Half of my family entered the trades, the other university. Most of the former are earning significantly higher wages and starting families. The latter group seem to be caught between low-entry level work, technological innovation and out sourcing. While the trades group are earning $60,000 plus, with no student loans and have had, more or less, continuous employment since high school; the university crowd is somewhat jaded. University, today to a large extent is an opportunity to study what is interesting to regardless of related employment. Toronto has many taxi drivers with professional degrees (architecture)

When the media and politicians talk about education, they should at least mention the opportunities that the trades have to offer. They should also work to fill the gap between high school and the trades, as well as, putting shop classes back into the computer labs - the kids learn that skill on their own.

10:16 pm June 26, 2013

Stephanie wrote:

*Than an associate's...
I don't mean to be a grammar nazi, that just confused me and I had to reread a few times.

3:07 am June 27, 2013

MW wrote:

Stephanie, if you reread the sentence you're referring to, THEN I think you will find that the correct one was used.

1:28 pm June 27, 2013

Neil Patel wrote:

Horribly misleading title. Only 65% of 55 million jobs will require post-high school education, which equates to 35.75 million reasons to go to college... have some integrity

3:24 pm June 27, 2013

robert99 wrote:

Let's see, 6.5 years till 2020. 55 million divided by 6.5 = 8.5 million per year or 700,000 new jobs per month. I hope I am mistaken, but what is wrong with this picture?

8:17 pm June 27, 2013

David wrote:

For those wondering (like robert99), the 55 million figure refers to new job openings, rather than net job creation. The article states that only 24 million are "new" jobs (the remainder come from retirements). 24/6.5 = about 300,000 new jobs per month. Optimistic, but not completely crazy.

11:21 pm June 27, 2013

Roberto wrote:

How many jobs will be generated in one year because those us who have been laid off by this new economy need jobs ASAP?

4:34 pm June 28, 2013

NotRealName wrote:

We have a big problem: The people who are in 'most need' (long-term unemployed) are being passed-over for employment opportunities (even if they are capable) - my situation. The people who were hired instead of me are all younger and less educated. I have gone back to these businesses to 'test' the new hires. They did not know anything about the products they were selling (I did/do know).
"Wanted: low-knowledge, low-payed, warm body to take money from customers needed. Apply within."

Neil Patel is 100% correct. Not every job will require a degree. The NEXT Steve Jobs, like the previous one most likely WILL NOT have a college degree, lol. People just need to add REAL value in the economy, don't think a "job" will be available. You just might have to actually CREATE your job in 2020.

1:43 pm July 1, 2013

mike wrote:

300K new jobs a month over the next 6.5 years is highly optimistic. Almost crazy optimistic actually. With Obamacare, various additional taxes on carbon. Higher state and local taxes. Pushes to increase wages, i.e. A living wage. The government and politicians have succeeded in pricing many workers out of a job. Add in increased automation, outsourcing aging population and you will find it hard to average half that number.

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